Shloka 8

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

संहिताध्ययने युक्तौ गोत्रतश्चापि काश्यपौ । तारणेयौ युक्तरूपीौ ब्राह्मणावृषिसत्तमौ,वे वैदिक संहिताके अध्ययनमें सदा संलग्न रहते थे। उनका गोत्र काश्यप था। वे दोनों ब्राह्मण सूर्यदेवके भक्त, बड़े ही योग्य तथा श्रेष्ठ ऋषि थे

Transliteration

saṃhitādhyayane yuktau gotrataścāpi kāśyapau | tāraṇeyau yukta-rūpau brāhmaṇāv ṛṣi-sattamau ||

Translation

Die beiden waren unablässig dem Studium und der Rezitation der vedischen Saṃhitās zugewandt. Ihrer Abstammung nach gehörten sie zum Kāśyapa-gotra. Als Tāraṇeyas bekannt, waren sie in Verhalten und Disziplin wohlgeformt—Brāhmaṇas höchsten Ranges unter den Sehern. Der Vers hebt hervor, dass wahres Brāhmaṇentum auf beständigem Lernen, der Reinheit der Linienüberlieferung und disziplinierter Hingabe beruht, nicht auf bloßem Status.

Word by Word

संहिता-अध्ययनेin the study of the Saṃhitā

युक्तौengaged/devoted

गोत्रतःby lineage/from the gotra

चand

अपिalso

काश्यपौtwo Kāśyapas (of the Kāśyapa gotra)

तारणेयौthe two Tārāṇeyas (descendants of Tārāṇa)

युक्त-रूपीof fitting/appropriate form; well-qualified

ब्राह्मणौtwo Brahmins

ऋषि-सत्तमौbest among sages

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kāśyapa (gotra/lineage)

Tāraṇeya (designation of the two Brahmins)

Vedic Saṃhitā (object of study)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical model of Brahmin excellence: steady commitment to Vedic learning (saṃhitādhyayana), disciplined character (yukta-rūpa), and continuity of tradition through recognized lineage (gotra).

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker describes two exemplary Brahmins: they are identified by their constant Vedic study, their Kāśyapa gotra, and their designation as Tāraṇeyas, praising them as foremost among sages.